New York officers murdered in the name of Michael Brown: Unrest and violence sparked by the Ferguson shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown continued as two New York police officers were killed in late December. Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos were shot and killed while sitting in their car while on duty in Brooklyn. The gunman, Ismaaiyl Brinsley, posted his intentions on Instagram hours before the attack and said it was in the name of Michael Brown’s death. The funerals of Officers Liu and Ramos drew hundreds of officers from across the country to the streets of New York to honor their fallen brothers.
Unrest in France: France experienced three days of terror, then grief, after gunmen Said and Chérif Kouachi attacked the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo — a satirical newspaper known for its inflammatory content — in Paris. 12 people, including editors, cartoonists and security personnel, were killed. Police tracked down and killed the brothers three days later. A separate gunman stormed a Paris kosher grocery store the same day the Kouachi brothers died, killing four hostages before he was killed by police. All three gunmen claimed to be affiliates of the Islamic State group.
Disappearance of Air Asia Indonesia flight 8501: Another plane went missing in late December. AirAsia Indonesia flight 8501 was last heard requesting permission to ascend to higher altitude to avoid bad weather. Plane wreckage and bodies were found a few days later in the Java Sea. Analysts are investigating whether or not the crash was an act of terrorism.
Measles outbreak: Multiple cases of the measles have been traced back to Disneyland in California. The outbreak continues to spread, and has more than 50 confirmed cases.
Presidential health scare: Former President George H.W. Bush spent the holidays in the Houston Methodist Hospital after he was admitted for shortness of breath. Bush, 90, is currently continuing his recovery at home.
Sony hack by North Korea temporarily shuts down “The Interview”: NSA agents confirmed that North Korea was behind the Sony Hack, a cyber attack in late November that released sensitive information on Sony employees and upcoming movies. The hack came after U.S.-North Korea tensions rose over “The Interview,” a Sony movie that humorously depicts Kim Jong Un’s assassination. Because of the attack, Sony temporarily pulled “The Interview” before releasing it online amid outcry from government officials, the public and Hollywood.